Securely storing data in an elastically scalable dispersed storage network

ABSTRACT

A method for execution by a dispersed storage and task (DST) processing unit includes: generating an encoded data slice from a dispersed storage encoding of a data object and determining when the encoded data slice will not be stored in local dispersed storage. When the encoded data slice will not be stored in the local dispersed storage, the encoded data slice is stored via at least one elastic slice in an elastic dispersed storage, cryptographic material and an elastic storage pointer indicating a location of the elastic slice in the elastic dispersed storage are generated, and the cryptographic material and the elastic storage pointer are stored in the local dispersed storage.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not applicable.

INCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISC

Not applicable.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Technical Field of the Invention

This invention relates generally to computer networks and more particularly to dispersing error encoded data.

Description of Related Art

Computing devices are known to communicate data, process data, and/or store data. Such computing devices range from wireless smart phones, laptops, tablets, personal computers (PC), work stations, and video game devices, to data centers that support millions of web searches, stock trades, or on-line purchases every day. In general, a computing device includes a central processing unit (CPU), a memory system, user input/output interfaces, peripheral device interfaces, and an interconnecting bus structure.

As is further known, a computer may effectively extend its CPU by using “cloud computing” to perform one or more computing functions (e.g., a service, an application, an algorithm, an arithmetic logic function, etc.) on behalf of the computer. Further, for large services, applications, and/or functions, cloud computing may be performed by multiple cloud computing resources in a distributed manner to improve the response time for completion of the service, application, and/or function. For example, Hadoop is an open source software framework that supports distributed applications enabling application execution by thousands of computers.

In addition to cloud computing, a computer may use “cloud storage” as part of its memory system. As is known, cloud storage enables a user, via its computer, to store files, applications, etc. on an Internet storage system. The Internet storage system may include a RAID (redundant array of independent disks) system and/or a dispersed storage system that uses an error correction scheme to encode data for storage.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S)

FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram of an embodiment of a dispersed or distributed storage network (DSN) in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram of an embodiment of a computing core in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a schematic block diagram of an example of dispersed storage error encoding of data in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a schematic block diagram of a generic example of an error encoding function in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a schematic block diagram of a specific example of an error encoding function in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a schematic block diagram of an example of a slice name of an encoded data slice (EDS) in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a schematic block diagram of an example of dispersed storage error decoding of data in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a schematic block diagram of a generic example of an error decoding function in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 9A is a schematic block diagram of an embodiment of a dispersed or distributed storage network (DSN) in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 9B is a schematic block diagram of an embodiment of a dispersed or distributed storage network (DSN) in accordance with the present invention; and

FIG. 10 is a logic diagram of an example of a method of elastic storage in accordance with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram of an embodiment of a dispersed, or distributed, storage network (DSN) 10 that includes a plurality of computing devices 12-16, a managing unit 18, an integrity processing unit 20, and a DSN memory 22. The components of the DSN 10 are coupled to a network 24, which may include one or more wireless and/or wire lined communication systems; one or more non-public intranet systems and/or public interne systems; and/or one or more local area networks (LAN) and/or wide area networks (WAN).

The DSN memory 22 includes a plurality of storage units 36 that may be located at geographically different sites (e.g., one in Chicago, one in Milwaukee, etc.), at a common site, or a combination thereof. For example, if the DSN memory 22 includes eight storage units 36, each storage unit is located at a different site. As another example, if the DSN memory 22 includes eight storage units 36, all eight storage units are located at the same site. As yet another example, if the DSN memory 22 includes eight storage units 36, a first pair of storage units are at a first common site, a second pair of storage units are at a second common site, a third pair of storage units are at a third common site, and a fourth pair of storage units are at a fourth common site. Note that a DSN memory 22 may include more or less than eight storage units 36. Further note that each storage unit 36 includes a computing core (as shown in FIG. 2, or components thereof) and a plurality of memory devices for storing dispersed error encoded data.

In various embodiments, each of the storage units operates as a distributed storage and task (DST) execution unit, and is operable to store dispersed error encoded data and/or to execute, in a distributed manner, one or more tasks on data. The tasks may be a simple function (e.g., a mathematical function, a logic function, an identify function, a find function, a search engine function, a replace function, etc.), a complex function (e.g., compression, human and/or computer language translation, text-to-voice conversion, voice-to-text conversion, etc.), multiple simple and/or complex functions, one or more algorithms, one or more applications, etc. Hereafter, a storage unit may be interchangeably referred to as a DST execution unit and a set of storage units may be interchangeably referred to as a set of DST execution units.

Each of the computing devices 12-16, the managing unit 18, and the integrity processing unit 20 include a computing core 26, which includes network interfaces 30-33. Computing devices 12-16 may each be a portable computing device and/or a fixed computing device. A portable computing device may be a social networking device, a gaming device, a cell phone, a smart phone, a digital assistant, a digital music player, a digital video player, a laptop computer, a handheld computer, a tablet, a video game controller, and/or any other portable device that includes a computing core. A fixed computing device may be a computer (PC), a computer server, a cable set-top box, a satellite receiver, a television set, a printer, a fax machine, home entertainment equipment, a video game console, and/or any type of home or office computing equipment. Note that each of the managing unit 18 and the integrity processing unit 20 may be separate computing devices, may be a common computing device, and/or may be integrated into one or more of the computing devices 12-16 and/or into one or more of the storage units 36.

Each interface 30, 32, and 33 includes software and hardware to support one or more communication links via the network 24 indirectly and/or directly. For example, interface 30 supports a communication link (e.g., wired, wireless, direct, via a LAN, via the network 24, etc.) between computing devices 14 and 16. As another example, interface 32 supports communication links (e.g., a wired connection, a wireless connection, a LAN connection, and/or any other type of connection to/from the network 24) between computing devices 12 & 16 and the DSN memory 22. As yet another example, interface 33 supports a communication link for each of the managing unit 18 and the integrity processing unit 20 to the network 24.

Computing devices 12 and 16 include a dispersed storage (DS) client module 34, which enables the computing device to dispersed storage error encode and decode data as subsequently described with reference to one or more of FIGS. 3-8. In this example embodiment, computing device 16 functions as a dispersed storage processing agent for computing device 14. In this role, computing device 16 dispersed storage error encodes and decodes data on behalf of computing device 14. With the use of dispersed storage error encoding and decoding, the DSN 10 is tolerant of a significant number of storage unit failures (the number of failures is based on parameters of the dispersed storage error encoding function) without loss of data and without the need for a redundant or backup copies of the data. Further, the DSN 10 stores data for an indefinite period of time without data loss and in a secure manner (e.g., the system is very resistant to unauthorized attempts at accessing the data).

In operation, the managing unit 18 performs DS management services. For example, the managing unit 18 establishes distributed data storage parameters (e.g., vault creation, distributed storage parameters, security parameters, billing information, user profile information, etc.) for computing devices 12-14 individually or as part of a group of user devices. As a specific example, the managing unit 18 coordinates creation of a vault (e.g., a virtual memory block associated with a portion of an overall namespace of the DSN) within the DSN memory 22 for a user device, a group of devices, or for public access and establishes per vault dispersed storage (DS) error encoding parameters for a vault. The managing unit 18 facilitates storage of DS error encoding parameters for each vault by updating registry information of the DSN 10, where the registry information may be stored in the DSN memory 22, a computing device 12-16, the managing unit 18, and/or the integrity processing unit 20.

The DSN managing unit 18 creates and stores user profile information (e.g., an access control list (ACL)) in local memory and/or within memory of the DSN memory 22. The user profile information includes authentication information, permissions, and/or the security parameters. The security parameters may include encryption/decryption scheme, one or more encryption keys, key generation scheme, and/or data encoding/decoding scheme.

The DSN managing unit 18 creates billing information for a particular user, a user group, a vault access, public vault access, etc. For instance, the DSN managing unit 18 tracks the number of times a user accesses a non-public vault and/or public vaults, which can be used to generate a per-access billing information. In another instance, the DSN managing unit 18 tracks the amount of data stored and/or retrieved by a user device and/or a user group, which can be used to generate a per-data-amount billing information.

As another example, the managing unit 18 performs network operations, network administration, and/or network maintenance. Network operations includes authenticating user data allocation requests (e.g., read and/or write requests), managing creation of vaults, establishing authentication credentials for user devices, adding/deleting components (e.g., user devices, storage units, and/or computing devices with a DS client module 34) to/from the DSN 10, and/or establishing authentication credentials for the storage units 36. Network administration includes monitoring devices and/or units for failures, maintaining vault information, determining device and/or unit activation status, determining device and/or unit loading, and/or determining any other system level operation that affects the performance level of the DSN 10. Network maintenance includes facilitating replacing, upgrading, repairing, and/or expanding a device and/or unit of the DSN 10.

The integrity processing unit 20 performs rebuilding of ‘bad’ or missing encoded data slices. At a high level, the integrity processing unit 20 performs rebuilding by periodically attempting to retrieve/list encoded data slices, and/or slice names of the encoded data slices, from the DSN memory 22. For retrieved encoded slices, they are checked for errors due to data corruption, outdated version, etc. If a slice includes an error, it is flagged as a ‘bad’ slice. For encoded data slices that were not received and/or not listed, they are flagged as missing slices. Bad and/or missing slices are subsequently rebuilt using other retrieved encoded data slices that are deemed to be good slices to produce rebuilt slices. The rebuilt slices are stored in the DSN memory 22.

FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram of an embodiment of a computing core 26 that includes a processing module 50, a memory controller 52, main memory 54, a video graphics processing unit 55, an input/output (IO) controller 56, a peripheral component interconnect (PCI) interface 58, an IO interface module 60, at least one IO device interface module 62, a read only memory (ROM) basic input output system (BIOS) 64, and one or more memory interface modules. The one or more memory interface module(s) includes one or more of a universal serial bus (USB) interface module 66, a host bus adapter (HBA) interface module 68, a network interface module 70, a flash interface module 72, a hard drive interface module 74, and a DSN interface module 76.

The DSN interface module 76 functions to mimic a conventional operating system (OS) file system interface (e.g., network file system (NFS), flash file system (FFS), disk file system (DFS), file transfer protocol (FTP), web-based distributed authoring and versioning (WebDAV), etc.) and/or a block memory interface (e.g., small computer system interface (SCSI), internet small computer system interface (iSCSI), etc.). The DSN interface module 76 and/or the network interface module 70 may function as one or more of the interface 30-33 of FIG. 1. Note that the IO device interface module 62 and/or the memory interface modules 66-76 may be collectively or individually referred to as IO ports.

FIG. 3 is a schematic block diagram of an example of dispersed storage error encoding of data. When a computing device 12 or 16 has data to store it disperse storage error encodes the data in accordance with a dispersed storage error encoding process based on dispersed storage error encoding parameters. Here, the computing device stores data object 40, which can include a file (e.g., text, video, audio, etc.), or other data arrangement. The dispersed storage error encoding parameters include an encoding function (e.g., information dispersal algorithm, Reed-Solomon, Cauchy Reed-Solomon, systematic encoding, non-systematic encoding, on-line codes, etc.), a data segmenting protocol (e.g., data segment size, fixed, variable, etc.), and per data segment encoding values. The per data segment encoding values include a total, or pillar width, number (T) of encoded data slices per encoding of a data segment i.e., in a set of encoded data slices); a decode threshold number (D) of encoded data slices of a set of encoded data slices that are needed to recover the data segment; a read threshold number (R) of encoded data slices to indicate a number of encoded data slices per set to be read from storage for decoding of the data segment; and/or a write threshold number (W) to indicate a number of encoded data slices per set that must be accurately stored before the encoded data segment is deemed to have been properly stored. The dispersed storage error encoding parameters may further include slicing information (e.g., the number of encoded data slices that will be created for each data segment) and/or slice security information (e.g., per encoded data slice encryption, compression, integrity checksum, etc.).

In the present example, Cauchy Reed-Solomon has been selected as the encoding function (a generic example is shown in FIG. 4 and a specific example is shown in FIG. 5); the data segmenting protocol is to divide the data object into fixed sized data segments; and the per data segment encoding values include: a pillar width of 5, a decode threshold of 3, a read threshold of 4, and a write threshold of 4. In accordance with the data segmenting protocol, the computing device 12 or 16 divides data object 40 into a plurality of fixed sized data segments (e.g., 1 through Y of a fixed size in range of Kilo-bytes to Tera-bytes or more). The number of data segments created is dependent of the size of the data and the data segmenting protocol.

The computing device 12 or 16 then disperse storage error encodes a data segment using the selected encoding function (e.g., Cauchy Reed-Solomon) to produce a set of encoded data slices. FIG. 4 illustrates a generic Cauchy Reed-Solomon encoding function, which includes an encoding matrix (EM), a data matrix (DM), and a coded matrix (CM). The size of the encoding matrix (EM) is dependent on the pillar width number (T) and the decode threshold number (D) of selected per data segment encoding values. To produce the data matrix (DM), the data segment is divided into a plurality of data blocks and the data blocks are arranged into D number of rows with Z data blocks per row. Note that Z is a function of the number of data blocks created from the data segment and the decode threshold number (D). The coded matrix is produced by matrix multiplying the data matrix by the encoding matrix.

FIG. 5 illustrates a specific example of Cauchy Reed-Solomon encoding with a pillar number (T) of five and decode threshold number of three. In this example, a first data segment is divided into twelve data blocks (D1-D12). The coded matrix includes five rows of coded data blocks, where the first row of X11-X14 corresponds to a first encoded data slice (EDS 1_1), the second row of X21-X24 corresponds to a second encoded data slice (EDS 2_1), the third row of X31-X34 corresponds to a third encoded data slice (EDS 3_1), the fourth row of X41-X44 corresponds to a fourth encoded data slice (EDS 4_1), and the fifth row of X51-X54 corresponds to a fifth encoded data slice (EDS 5_1). Note that the second number of the EDS designation corresponds to the data segment number.

Returning to the discussion of FIG. 3, the computing device also creates a slice name (SN) for each encoded data slice (EDS) in the set of encoded data slices. A typical format for a slice name 80 is shown in FIG. 6. As shown, the slice name (SN) 80 includes a pillar number of the encoded data slice (e.g., one of 1-T), a data segment number (e.g., one of 1-Y), a vault identifier (ID), a data object identifier (ID), and may further include revision level information of the encoded data slices. The slice name functions as, at least part of, a DSN address for the encoded data slice for storage and retrieval from the DSN memory 22.

As a result of encoding, the computing device 12 or 16 produces a plurality of sets of encoded data slices, which are provided with their respective slice names to the storage units for storage. As shown, the first set of encoded data slices includes EDS 1_1 through EDS 5_1 and the first set of slice names includes SN 1_1 through SN 5_1 and the last set of encoded data slices includes EDS 1_Y through EDS 5_Y and the last set of slice names includes SN 1_Y through SN 5_Y.

FIG. 7 is a schematic block diagram of an example of dispersed storage error decoding of a data object that was dispersed storage error encoded and stored in the example of FIG. 4. In this example, the computing device 12 or 16 retrieves from the storage units at least the decode threshold number of encoded data slices per data segment. As a specific example, the computing device retrieves a read threshold number of encoded data slices.

To recover a data segment from a decode threshold number of encoded data slices, the computing device uses a decoding function as shown in FIG. 8. As shown, the decoding function is essentially an inverse of the encoding function of FIG. 4. The coded matrix includes a decode threshold number of rows (e.g., three in this example) and the decoding matrix in an inversion of the encoding matrix that includes the corresponding rows of the coded matrix. For example, if the coded matrix includes rows 1, 2, and 4, the encoding matrix is reduced to rows 1, 2, and 4, and then inverted to produce the decoding matrix.

FIG. 9A is a schematic block diagram of another embodiment of a dispersed storage network (DSN) that includes a “Hybrid Cloud” that combines local dispersed storage such as mostly fixed resource/harder to scale DSN memory or other fixed or local DSN memory with elastic dispersed storage such as an elastically scalable or practically unlimited DSN memory or other elastic DSN memory. This Hybrid Cloud system includes a local DSN memory with a computing device 16 of FIG. 1, the network 24 of FIG. 1 and local dispersed storage 900 having a plurality of storage units 1-n. The network 24 is further coupled to elastic dispersed storage 902 that includes a plurality of storage units 1′-n′ of an elastic DSN memory. As shown in conjunction with FIG. 9B, the elastic DSN memory may include its own computing device or other distributed storage and task (DST) processing unit.

The computing device 16 can include the interface 32 of FIG. 1, the computing core 26 of FIG. 1, and the DS client module 34 of FIG. 1. The computing device 16 can function as a dispersed storage processing agent for computing device 14 as described previously, and may hereafter be referred to as a distributed storage and task (DST) processing unit. Each storage unit 1-n and 1′-n′ may be implemented utilizing the storage unit 36 of FIG. 1. The DSN functions to facilitate storage of data slices via the local dispersed storage 900 and/or the elastic dispersed storage 902.

In various embodiments, a processing system of a dispersed storage and task (DST) processing unit includes at least one processor and a memory that stores operational instructions, that when executed by the at least one processor cause the processing system to generate an encoded data slice from a dispersed storage encoding of a data object and determine when the encoded data slice will not be stored in local dispersed storage. When the encoded data slice will not be stored in the local dispersed storage, the encoded data slice is stored via at least one elastic slice in an elastic dispersed storage, cryptographic material and an elastic storage pointer indicating a location of the elastic slice in the elastic dispersed storage are generated. The cryptographic material and the elastic storage pointer are stored in the local dispersed storage.

In various embodiments, determining when the encoded data slice will not be stored in local dispersed storage is based on at least one of: an available storage capacity of the local dispersed storage, a comparison of elastic storage cost to local storage cost, a security requirement associated with the data object, an access parameter associated with the data object, or a status parameter of the local dispersed storage. The elastic storage pointer can include a DSN memory identifier associated with the elastic dispersed storage, a data object identifier, a namespace location associated with the elastic dispersed storage, a slice name associated with the elastic slice, a slice name associated with the encoded data slice, a revision identifier associated with the encoded data slice. A write request response can be received from the local dispersed storage in response to the storing of the elastic storage pointer.

In various embodiments, storing the encoded data slice via the elastic slice can be performed by: storing the encoded data slice as the at least one elastic slice; dispersed storage encoding the encoded data slice into a plurality of elastic slices, and storing the plurality of elastic slices in a plurality of storage units of the elastic dispersed storage; or sending the encoded data slice to another DST processing unit associated with the elastic dispersed storage for dispersed storage encoding the encoded data slice into a plurality of elastic slices and storage of the plurality of elastic slices in a plurality of storage units of the elastic dispersed storage. The operational instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, can further cause the processing system to: send a read request to the local dispersed storage for the encoded data slice; and receive a response to the read request from the local dispersed storage that includes the encoded data slice as recovered from the elastic dispersed storage.

In various embodiments, the cryptographic material includes at least one of: a key encryption key; encryption key; hash-message authentication code (HMAC) key; digital signing key; or a public/private key pair. The operational instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, can further cause the processing system to: send a read request to the local dispersed storage for the encoded data slice and retrieve the elastic slice from the elastic dispersed storage and verifying the elastic slice. When the elastic slice is verified, a response to the read request from the local dispersed storage can be generated to include the encoded data slice as recovered from the elastic slice. When the elastic slice is not verified, the response to the read request from the local dispersed storage can be generated to include a read error indication.

The operation of the DST processing unit can be further illustrated in conjunction with the following example where the local storage 900 is implemented via a local on-premises DSN memory and the elastic dispersed storage 902 is implemented via an elastic DSN memory, such as a DSN cloud storage public utility or service. Often, the local DSN memory is fixed and has a fixed cost, while the elastic DSN may have a marginal cost per usage. A DST processing unit, operating within the local DSN memory, may decide whether to store a slice it receives locally, or to store the slice in an elastic DSN memory and store a pointer such as an “elastic storage pointer” in the local DSN memory to where that slice was stored locally. The DST processing unit may make the decision to store a slice in the elastic DSN memory in cases such as: when a status parameter indicates the local DSN memory has degraded, or failed, when a performance parameter indicates performance of storing slices locally is beyond the capabilities of the local DSN memory, when the local DSN memory is out of available storage capacity, has insufficient available storage capacity to store the encoded data slice, when it is determined to be cheaper to store the slice in the elastic DSN memory rather than within the local DSN memory or when a security requirement associated with the data object dictates that local storage is required.

When the DST processing unit determines it will store the slice in the elastic DSN memory, it generates the elastic storage pointer, which can be merely a short descriptor of where within the elastic DSN memory the slice is stored, and how it is stored. For example, it may include a DSN memory ID, an object ID, a namespace location, a slice name in the elastic DSN memory, or other fields necessary and relevant to the restoration of the slice at a later time. The pointer may contain the original slice name and revision so that listing requests can be satisfied without having to read the slice stored remotely. The local DSN memory then stores the elastic storage pointer in lieu of storing the slice locally. The encoded data slice is stored in the elastic DSN memory.

An encoded data slice may be stored in different ways. For example, the encoded data slice destined for storage in the elastic DSN memory as one or more “elastic slice(s)” can be stored directly as an elastic slice with a single storage unit 1′-n′ in the elastic DSN memory. In this case, the elastic data slice is merely the encoded data slice and the storage units 1-n in the fixed DSN memory may be paired or linked to certain other storage units 1′-n′ in the elastic DSN memory, to facilitate storage and retrieval of the elastic slice.

In another example, presented in greater detail in conjunction with FIG. 9B, the encoded data slice can be stored as its own data object by sending it to a DST processing unit in the elastic DSN memory to be dispersed storage encoded and further sub-divided into a write threshold number of elastic slices that are stored in a write threshold number of the storage units 1′-n′ in the elastic DSN memory. In a further example, the encoded data slice can be further dispersed storage encoded by the DST processing unit of the local DSN memory itself into a write threshold number of elastic slices. The resulting elastic slices can be sent for storage in a write threshold number of the storage units 1′-n′ in the elastic DSN memory.

After the storage of the elastic slice or slices completes, the local DSN memory returns a response to the write request in the same way it would have returned it had the encoded data slice been stored within the local DSN memory itself. Upon a read request for a slice that has been stored remotely, the local DSN memory determines that an elastic slice pointer, rather than the slice itself, is stored locally. The local DSN memory then extracts relevant information from the elastic slice pointer to determine its location and how to retrieve it from the elastic DSN memory. The local DSN memory then recovers the slice from the elastic DSN memory by reversing the particular mechanism for creating the elastic slice or slices defined above. When the encoded data slice is restored, the local DSN memory returns the slice in response to the read request. Since remotely stored slices generally have higher cost to store and retrieve, as well as worse performance, the local DSN memory may “pull in” remotely stored slices as capacity and performance constraints allow. For example, if space is freed on the local DSN memory, the local DSN memory may process locally stored elastic slice pointers to recover the corresponding slices and store the recovered slices locally and remove the elastic slice pointer. In this fashion, future reads for these slices do not require communicating with units in the elastic DSN memory, and potential elastic DSN memory costs can be reduced.

In various embodiments, the elastic DSN memory, may be less trusted, less secure, more prone to attack, more exposed, and more subject to data interception by adversaries because it is external from the fixed DSN memory and/or not under direct control of the entity that owns and/or controls the fixed DSN memory. To mitigate these security concerns, storage units and/or DST processing units operating within the fixed DSN memory, when choosing to store slices or objects in the elastic DSN memory, can generate cryptographic (crypto) material, such as: key encryption keys such as wrapping keys; encryption keys; hash-message authentication code (HMAC) keys; digital signing keys; public/private key pairs and/or other crypto material for securing the storage of elastic slices in the elastic DSN memory.

The cryptographic material can be used to encrypt and/or sign the encoded slice data or the elastic slices, prior to storage in the elastic DSN memory. In addition, the cryptographic material may be stored within the DST processing unit or storage unit, in conjunction with the elastic slice pointer. In particular, the crypto material can be stored separately from the elastic slice pointer on the storage unit, within the elastic slice pointer on the storage unit, or in another vault or container within the fixed DSN memory. When returning an object or slices from the elastic DSN memory, the storage unit or DST processing unit identifies the corresponding cryptographic material needed to verify and decrypt the object/slice, before returning it to the requester. If the verification fails, the storage unit or DST processing unit may return an error indication, such as a read error or other indication, instead of the requested object or slice.

FIG. 9B is a schematic block diagram of an embodiment of a dispersed storage network (DSN). In particular, an elastic DSN memory is presented for use in conjunction with the DSN Hybrid Cloud system of FIG. 9A. The elastic DSN memory includes a computing device 16′ of FIG. 1, and elastic dispersed storage 902 having a plurality of storage units 1′-n′. The network 24 is coupled to the elastic DSN memory and the components of local DSN memory discussed in conjunction with FIG. 9A. The computing device 16′ can include the interface 32 of FIG. 1, the computing core 26 of FIG. 1, and the DS client module 34 of FIG. 1. The computing device 16′ can function as a dispersed storage processing agent for computing device 14 as described previously, and may hereafter be referred to as a distributed storage and task (DST) processing unit. Each storage unit 1′-n′ may be implemented utilizing the storage unit 36 of FIG. 1.

As discussed in conjunction with FIG. 9A, an elastic data slice may be stored in different ways. In the example shown, an encoded data slice can be stored as its own data object by sending it as indicated by “elastic slice” to computing device 16′ that operates as a DST processing unit. The computing device 16′ dispersed storage encodes the elastic slice and further sub-divides the slice into a write threshold number of DS encoded elastic slices that are stored in a write threshold number of the storage units 1′-n′ in the elastic DSN memory.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating an example of elastic storage in a DSN. In particular, a method is presented for use in conjunction with one or more functions and features described in association with FIGS. 1-9A and 9B. For example, the method can be executed by a dispersed storage and task (DST) processing unit that includes a processor and associated memory or via another processing system of a dispersed storage network that includes at least one processor and memory that stores instruction that configure the processor or processors to perform the steps described below. Step 1002 includes generating an encoded data slice from a dispersed storage encoding of a data object. In step 1004, the method determines whether or not the encoded data slice will not be stored in local dispersed storage. If the method determines to store the encoded data slice in local dispersed storage, the method proceeds to step 1006 where such storage takes place. When the encoded data slice will not be stored in the local dispersed storage, the method proceeds to steps 1008, 1010 and 1012. Step 1008 includes storing the encoded data slice via at least one elastic slice in an elastic dispersed storage. Step 1010 includes generating cryptographic material and an elastic storage pointer indicating a location of the elastic slice in the elastic dispersed storage. Step 1012 includes storing the cryptographic material and the elastic storage pointer in the local dispersed storage.

In various embodiments determining whether or not the encoded data slice will be stored in local dispersed storage is based on at least one of: an available storage capacity of the local dispersed storage, a comparison of elastic storage cost to local storage cost, a security requirement associated with the data object, an access parameter associated with the data object, or a status parameter of the local dispersed storage. The elastic storage pointer can include: a DSN memory identifier associated with the elastic dispersed storage, a data object identifier, a namespace location associated with the elastic dispersed storage, a slice name associated with the elastic slice, a slice name associated with the encoded data slice, or a revision identifier associated with the encoded data slice.

In various embodiments, storing the encoded data slice via the elastic slice can be performed by: storing the encoded data slice as the at least one elastic slice; dispersed storage encoding the encoded data slice into a plurality of elastic slices, and storing the plurality of elastic slices in a plurality of storage units of the elastic dispersed storage; or sending the encoded data slice to another DST processing unit associated with the elastic dispersed storage for dispersed storage encoding the encoded data slice into a plurality of elastic slices and storage of the plurality of elastic slices in a plurality of storage units of the elastic dispersed storage. The method can further include sending a read request to the local dispersed storage for the encoded data slice; and receiving a response to the read request from the local dispersed storage that includes the encoded data slice as recovered from the elastic dispersed storage.

In various embodiments, the cryptographic material includes at least one of: a key encryption key; encryption key; hash-message authentication code (HMAC) key; digital signing key; or a public/private key pair. The method can further include: sending a read request to the local dispersed storage for the encoded data slice and retrieving the elastic slice from the elastic dispersed storage and verifying the elastic slice. When the elastic slice is verified, a response to the read request from the local dispersed storage can be generated to include the encoded data slice as recovered from the elastic slice. When the elastic slice is not verified, the response to the read request from the local dispersed storage can be generated to includes a read error indication.

In various embodiments, a non-transitory computer readable storage medium includes at least one memory section that stores operational instructions that, when executed by a processing system of a dispersed storage network (DSN) that includes a processor and a memory, causes the processing system to generate an encoded data slice from a dispersed storage encoding of a data object and determine when the encoded data slice will not be stored in local dispersed storage. When the encoded data slice will not be stored in the local dispersed storage, the encoded data slice is stored via at least one elastic slice in an elastic dispersed storage, cryptographic material and an elastic storage pointer indicating a location of the elastic slice in the elastic dispersed storage are generated and the cryptographic material and elastic storage pointer are stored in the local dispersed storage.

It is noted that terminologies as may be used herein such as bit stream, stream, signal sequence, etc. (or their equivalents) have been used interchangeably to describe digital information whose content corresponds to any of a number of desired types (e.g., data, video, speech, audio, etc. any of which may generally be referred to as ‘data’).

As may be used herein, the terms “substantially” and “approximately” provides an industry-accepted tolerance for its corresponding term and/or relativity between items. Such an industry-accepted tolerance ranges from less than one percent to fifty percent and corresponds to, but is not limited to, component values, integrated circuit process variations, temperature variations, rise and fall times, and/or thermal noise. Such relativity between items ranges from a difference of a few percent to magnitude differences. As may also be used herein, the term(s) “configured to”, “operably coupled to”, “coupled to”, and/or “coupling” includes direct coupling between items and/or indirect coupling between items via an intervening item (e.g., an item includes, but is not limited to, a component, an element, a circuit, and/or a module) where, for an example of indirect coupling, the intervening item does not modify the information of a signal but may adjust its current level, voltage level, and/or power level. As may further be used herein, inferred coupling (i.e., where one element is coupled to another element by inference) includes direct and indirect coupling between two items in the same manner as “coupled to”. As may even further be used herein, the term “configured to”, “operable to”, “coupled to”, or “operably coupled to” indicates that an item includes one or more of power connections, input(s), output(s), etc., to perform, when activated, one or more its corresponding functions and may further include inferred coupling to one or more other items. As may still further be used herein, the term “associated with”, includes direct and/or indirect coupling of separate items and/or one item being embedded within another item.

As may be used herein, the term “compares favorably”, indicates that a comparison between two or more items, signals, etc., provides a desired relationship. For example, when the desired relationship is that signal 1 has a greater magnitude than signal 2, a favorable comparison may be achieved when the magnitude of signal 1 is greater than that of signal 2 or when the magnitude of signal 2 is less than that of signal 1. As may be used herein, the term “compares unfavorably”, indicates that a comparison between two or more items, signals, etc., fails to provide the desired relationship.

As may also be used herein, the terms “processing module”, “processing circuit”, “processor”, and/or “processing unit” may be a single processing device or a plurality of processing devices. Such a processing device may be a microprocessor, micro-controller, digital signal processor, microcomputer, central processing unit, field programmable gate array, programmable logic device, state machine, logic circuitry, analog circuitry, digital circuitry, and/or any device that manipulates signals (analog and/or digital) based on hard coding of the circuitry and/or operational instructions. The processing module, module, processing circuit, and/or processing unit may be, or further include, memory and/or an integrated memory element, which may be a single memory device, a plurality of memory devices, and/or embedded circuitry of another processing module, module, processing circuit, and/or processing unit. Such a memory device may be a read-only memory, random access memory, volatile memory, non-volatile memory, static memory, dynamic memory, flash memory, cache memory, and/or any device that stores digital information. Note that if the processing module, module, processing circuit, and/or processing unit includes more than one processing device, the processing devices may be centrally located (e.g., directly coupled together via a wired and/or wireless bus structure) or may be distributedly located (e.g., cloud computing via indirect coupling via a local area network and/or a wide area network). Further note that if the processing module, module, processing circuit, and/or processing unit implements one or more of its functions via a state machine, analog circuitry, digital circuitry, and/or logic circuitry, the memory and/or memory element storing the corresponding operational instructions may be embedded within, or external to, the circuitry comprising the state machine, analog circuitry, digital circuitry, and/or logic circuitry. Still further note that, the memory element may store, and the processing module, module, processing circuit, and/or processing unit executes, hard coded and/or operational instructions corresponding to at least some of the steps and/or functions illustrated in one or more of the Figures. Such a memory device or memory element can be included in an article of manufacture.

One or more embodiments have been described above with the aid of method steps illustrating the performance of specified functions and relationships thereof. The boundaries and sequence of these functional building blocks and method steps have been arbitrarily defined herein for convenience of description. Alternate boundaries and sequences can be defined so long as the specified functions and relationships are appropriately performed. Any such alternate boundaries or sequences are thus within the scope and spirit of the claims. Further, the boundaries of these functional building blocks have been arbitrarily defined for convenience of description. Alternate boundaries could be defined as long as the certain significant functions are appropriately performed. Similarly, flow diagram blocks may also have been arbitrarily defined herein to illustrate certain significant functionality.

To the extent used, the flow diagram block boundaries and sequence could have been defined otherwise and still perform the certain significant functionality. Such alternate definitions of both functional building blocks and flow diagram blocks and sequences are thus within the scope and spirit of the claims. One of average skill in the art will also recognize that the functional building blocks, and other illustrative blocks, modules and components herein, can be implemented as illustrated or by discrete components, application specific integrated circuits, processors executing appropriate software and the like or any combination thereof.

In addition, a flow diagram may include a “start” and/or “continue” indication. The “start” and “continue” indications reflect that the steps presented can optionally be incorporated in or otherwise used in conjunction with other routines. In this context, “start” indicates the beginning of the first step presented and may be preceded by other activities not specifically shown. Further, the “continue” indication reflects that the steps presented may be performed multiple times and/or may be succeeded by other activities not specifically shown. Further, while a flow diagram indicates a particular ordering of steps, other orderings are likewise possible provided that the principles of causality are maintained.

The one or more embodiments are used herein to illustrate one or more aspects, one or more features, one or more concepts, and/or one or more examples. A physical embodiment of an apparatus, an article of manufacture, a machine, and/or of a process may include one or more of the aspects, features, concepts, examples, etc. described with reference to one or more of the embodiments discussed herein. Further, from figure to figure, the embodiments may incorporate the same or similarly named functions, steps, modules, etc. that may use the same or different reference numbers and, as such, the functions, steps, modules, etc. may be the same or similar functions, steps, modules, etc. or different ones.

Unless specifically stated to the contra, signals to, from, and/or between elements in a figure of any of the figures presented herein may be analog or digital, continuous time or discrete time, and single-ended or differential. For instance, if a signal path is shown as a single-ended path, it also represents a differential signal path. Similarly, if a signal path is shown as a differential path, it also represents a single-ended signal path. While one or more particular architectures are described herein, other architectures can likewise be implemented that use one or more data buses not expressly shown, direct connectivity between elements, and/or indirect coupling between other elements as recognized by one of average skill in the art.

The term “module” is used in the description of one or more of the embodiments. A module implements one or more functions via a device such as a processor or other processing device or other hardware that may include or operate in association with a memory that stores operational instructions. A module may operate independently and/or in conjunction with software and/or firmware. As also used herein, a module may contain one or more sub-modules, each of which may be one or more modules.

As may further be used herein, a computer readable memory includes one or more memory elements. A memory element may be a separate memory device, multiple memory devices, or a set of memory locations within a memory device. Such a memory device may be a read-only memory, random access memory, volatile memory, non-volatile memory, static memory, dynamic memory, flash memory, cache memory, and/or any device that stores digital information. The memory device may be in a form a solid state memory, a hard drive memory, cloud memory, thumb drive, server memory, computing device memory, and/or other physical medium for storing digital information.

While particular combinations of various functions and features of the one or more embodiments have been expressly described herein, other combinations of these features and functions are likewise possible. The present disclosure is not limited by the particular examples disclosed herein and expressly incorporates these other combinations. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for execution by a processing unit that includes a processor, the method comprises: generating an encoded data slice from a dispersed storage encoding of a data object; determining when the encoded data slice will not be stored in local dispersed storage; when the encoded data slice will not be stored in the local dispersed storage: dispersed storage encoding the encoded data slice into elastic slices; storing the elastic slices in a plurality of storage units of an elastic dispersed storage; generating cryptographic material and an elastic storage pointer for each of the elastic slices indicating a location of a corresponding one of the elastic slices in the elastic dispersed storage; generating a read error indicator based on the cryptographic material, wherein the read error indicator is used to verify the encoded slice data or the elastic slices; and storing the cryptographic material and the elastic storage pointer in the local dispersed storage; sending a read request to the local dispersed storage for the encoded data slice; retrieving the elastic slices from the elastic dispersed storage and verifying the elastic slices; when the elastic slices are verified, generating a response to the read request from the local dispersed storage that includes the encoded data slice as recovered from the elastic slices; and when the elastic slices are not verified, generating the response to the read request from the local dispersed storage to includes a read error indication.
 2. The method of claim 1 wherein determining when the encoded data slice will not be stored in local dispersed storage is based on at least one of: an available storage capacity of the local dispersed storage, a comparison of elastic storage cost to local storage cost, a security requirement associated with the data object, an access parameter associated with the data object, or a status parameter of the local dispersed storage.
 3. The method of claim 1 wherein the elastic storage pointer includes a memory identifier associated with the elastic dispersed storage or a data object identifier.
 4. The method of claim 1 wherein the elastic storage pointer includes a namespace location associated with the elastic dispersed storage.
 5. The method of claim 1 wherein the elastic storage pointer includes a slice name associated with the corresponding one of the elastic slices, a slice name associated with the encoded data slice or a revision identifier associated with the encoded data slice.
 6. The method of claim 1 further comprising: sending the encoded data slice to another processing unit associated with the elastic dispersed storage for dispersed storage encoding the encoded data slice into other elastic slices and storage of the other elastic slices in a plurality of storage units of the elastic dispersed storage.
 7. The method of claim 1 wherein the cryptographic material includes at least one of: a key encryption key; encryption key; hash-message authentication code (HMAC) key; digital signing key; or a public/private key pair.
 8. A processing system of a dispersed storage and task processing unit comprises: at least one processor; a memory that stores operational instructions, that when executed by the at least one processor cause the processing system to: generate an encoded data slice from a dispersed storage encoding of a data object; determine when the encoded data slice will not be stored in local dispersed storage; when the encoded data slice will not be stored in the local dispersed storage: dispersed storage encode the encoded data slice into a plurality of elastic slices; store the plurality of elastic slices in a plurality of storage units of an elastic dispersed storage; generate cryptographic material and an elastic storage pointer for each of the elastic slices indicating a location of a corresponding one of the elastic slices in the elastic dispersed storage; generate a read error indicator based on the cryptographic material, wherein the read error indicator is used to verify the encoded slice data or the elastic slices; and store the cryptographic material and the elastic storage pointer in the local dispersed storage; send a read request to the local dispersed storage for the encoded data slice; retrieve the elastic slices from the elastic dispersed storage and verify the elastic slices; when the elastic slices are verified, generate a response to the read request from the local dispersed storage that includes the encoded data slice as recovered from the elastic slices; and when the elastic slices are not verified, generate the response to the read request from the local dispersed storage to include a read error indication.
 9. The processing system of claim 8 wherein determining when the encoded data slice will not be stored in local dispersed storage is based on at least one of: an available storage capacity of the local dispersed storage, a comparison of elastic storage cost to local storage cost, a security requirement associated with the data object, an access parameter associated with the data object, or a status parameter of the local dispersed storage.
 10. The processing system of claim 8 wherein the elastic storage pointer includes a memory identifier associated with the elastic dispersed storage or a data object identifier.
 11. The processing system of claim 8 wherein the elastic storage pointer includes a namespace location associated with the elastic dispersed storage.
 12. The processing system of claim 8 wherein the elastic storage pointer includes a slice name associated with the correspond one of the elastic slices, a slice name associated with the encoded data slice, or a revision identifier associated with the encoded data slice.
 13. The processing system of claim 8 further comprising: sending the encoded data slice to another processing unit associated with the elastic dispersed storage for dispersed storage encoding the encoded data slice into other elastic slices and storage of the other elastic slices in a plurality of storage units of the elastic dispersed storage.
 14. The processing system of claim 8 wherein a write request response is received from the local dispersed storage in response to the storing of the elastic storage pointer.
 15. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium comprises: at least one memory section that stores operational instructions that, when executed by a processing system that includes a processor and a memory, causes the processing system to: generate an encoded data slice from a dispersed storage encoding of a data object; determine when the encoded data slice will not be stored in local dispersed storage; when the encoded data slice will not be stored in the local dispersed storage: dispersed storage encode the encoded data slice into a plurality of elastic slices; store the plurality of elastic slices in a plurality of storage units of an elastic dispersed storage; generate, cryptographic material and an elastic storage pointer for each of the elastic slices indicating a location of a corresponding one of the elastic slices in the elastic dispersed storage; generate a read error indicator based on the cryptographic material, wherein the read error indicator is used to verify the encoded slice data or the elastic slices; and store the cryptographic material and the elastic storage pointer in the local dispersed storage; when the elastic slices are verified in response to a read request, generate a response to the read request from the local dispersed storage that includes the encoded data slice as recovered from the elastic slices; and when the elastic slices are not verified in response to the read request, generate the response to the read request from the local dispersed storage to include a read error indication.
 16. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 15 wherein determining when the encoded data slice will not be stored in local dispersed storage is based on at least one of: an available storage capacity of the local dispersed storage, a comparison of elastic storage cost to local storage cost, a security requirement associated with the data object, an access parameter associated with the data object, or a status parameter of the local dispersed storage.
 17. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 15 wherein the cryptographic material includes at least one of: a key encryption key; encryption key; hash-message authentication code (HMAC) key; digital signing key; or a public/private key pair.
 18. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 15 wherein the operational instructions, when executed by the processing system, further cause the processing system to: send the read request to the local dispersed storage for the encoded data slice; and retrieve the elastic slices from the elastic dispersed storage and verify the elastic slices. 